THE JOURNEY TO THE VILLAGE

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I entered and saw everyone sitted calmingly and my mom holding a beautiful cake with lightened candles

'Happy birthday to you' (2x)

'Happy birthday' (2x)

'Happy birthday to you'

That was what I heard as I entered the room

Are these people serious right now? I thought within myself .And just then it flashed through my mind that today is 27th December, my birthday, It was so unlike me to forget people's birthdays especially mine, so all the drama my brothers did was just to lure me into the house for a birthday suprise, I breathed and sighed in relief .I looked at my two naughty brothers they were laughing including Jane. I was busy thinking something had happened to my mother.

'Hmmm, mom I Love you so much' I said hugging her tightly as she dropped the cake on the table to hug me back.

'I forgot that today was my birthday' I said

I guessed so because you would have disturbed me and your dad for a birthday gift this morning' mom said laughing at me

'Thank uuuuu mom' I replied

'But they really scared me o' I said to mom

'Ma we were so scared' Dorathy replied behaving as if she wanted to chase touch Junior and Comas who ran playfully

'Don't mind them they wanted you to come inside'

'Sorry ,it is called birthday sup....ri...se ' said Junior stressing the word suprise.

'You have to really thank your siblings and your daddy who reminded me ' she said

'Your Dad waited for your usual call, when he didn't see any call, he called believing that you probably forgot'

'So I had to book for cake this morning when we were in church'.

'Awwww thank you ' I said placing my hand in my chest , turning to my siblings I smiled and I hugged them .

'Sister Jennifer, happy birthday' they said in unison

'Thank you I love you all'

'We love you more'

'I Know, who wouldn't love a caring sister like me' I bragged. They smiled. They sang the birthday song again and every member of the family wished me happy. My uncles and aunts hugged me each person stuffing money into my hands.

'It is time to make a wish' my said

'Ok'

'Make a wish, make a wish, make a wish'. All my cousins and siblings sang clapping at the same'.

I closed my eyes and made a wish and blew off the candle.

'Okay at the spelling of your name you cut the cake, okay?mom said

'Okay'

Everybody are you ready? she asked

Okay one, two, three go

J....e....n.....n..... i......f......e......r'

'Jennifer ' they pronounced as I cut the cake. Uncle Chiboy took pictures as I posed with everyone.

'Let's pray for her ' mom said .

Everybody gathered round me, I knelt down in the middle and grandma led in prayers.

The cake was sliced into pieces by Dorathy and Chioma and I served everybody around and I even went to other compound to share the cake. No wonder I woke up today happy and excited. My father later called to wish me a happy birthday not until after teased me about forgeting my birthday, I laughed .And he prayed for me over the phone and I thanked him profusely.

At night my cousins, siblings and I were busy talking among ourselves, my mother mom has already gone to bed and her siblings were outside discussing and grandma sat alone receiving fresh air, suddenly Cosmas stood up and went straight to my grandmother, I sat there looking at him to know what he is up to

'Mama please tell us stories' he said to our hearing and everyone of turned waiting to hear what grandma would say

'My friend Collins always tells me stories that his grandma tells him anytime he comes back from the village'

'Can you please tell us stories' Cosmas pleaded. Cosmas has really stolen everyone's heart including grandma because of his activeness and boldness, always ready to say what is on his mind without fear.

'Okay my Pikin' grandma said hugging my brother and strucking his hair. Pikin was what my grandma started calling Cosmas due to his playfulness, mom said that grandma always calls children that when she becomes fond of you, she said when they were young grandma calls uncle Chiboy 'pikin' as her last and closest child.

'Oya everybody come' she beckoned at the rest of us

'Thank you Grandma' we said as we gathered around her to hear her stories. She waited for sometime, thinking of which story to tell us

'Once upon a time.........' she began